Seeking but not Finding

If Christians claim to read the same Scriptures and follow the same God, why does it seem that so many are lacking the truth?


The book Christ's Object Lessons, which is a relatively small book on the parables of Jesus, contains a chapter on "The Parable of the Hidden Treasure" (you can find the parable in Matthew 13:44).  The chapter, aptly titled "Hidden Treasure" contains subtitles covering various aspects of the parable.  As I read the section subtitled "Search for the Treasure" I came upon the answer to the aforementioned question.

The treasure in the parable represents God's word, and more importantly, a correct understanding of His word.  Why then do so many Christians lack an understanding of the Bible truth?  One could say, "That's simple, not everyone actually reads and understands the Bible even though they say that they do."   However, such an answer only contains part of the truth.  Why don't people truly read and understand God's word?  The answer to that question may be difficult for many people to accept.  The author of the book answers it in this way.

"[The word of God] is an inexhaustible treasure; but men fail to find this treasure because they do not search until it is within their possession. Very many are content with a supposition in regard to the truth. They are content with a surface work, taking for granted that they have all that is essential. They take the sayings of others for truth, being too indolent to put themselves to diligent, earnest labor, represented in the word as digging for hidden treasure. But man's inventions are not only unreliable, they are dangerous; for they place man where God should be. They place the sayings of men where a 'Thus saith the Lord' should be." pgs. 109, 110

 Very few people want to have such words as superficial, gullible, and indolent, associated with their character, yet such associations will exist if they do no put forth the diligent effort necessary to truly understand God's word.  So many professed teachers and spiritual leaders attempt to explain the Scriptures using their faulty human reasoning.  The author likens that to trying to give light to the sun with a torch.  God's holy word needs no such addition to make it truths known, and we need not to follow such leaders.  As Jesus once said, "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into a pit?" Luke 6:39

Thankfully, the effort to understand God's word does not go without assistance.

"The Holy Spirit, sent from heaven by the benevolence of infinite love, takes the things of God and reveals them to every soul that has an implicit faith in Christ. By His power the vital truths upon which the salvation of the soul depends are impressed upon the mind, and the way of life is made so plain that none need err therein. As we study the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God's Holy Spirit to shine upon the word, that we may see and appreciate its treasures" pg. 113

 Help us, Lord, to trust in You, and You alone to lead us into all truth.